Key case



[LAMBERT Dec. 5, 1967 KEY CASE Filed Au@ 1v, 1965 INVENTOR.

United States Patent O 3,355,917 KEY CASE Daniel Albert, 1334 Caton Ave., Brooklyn, N.Y. 11226 Filed Aug. 17, 1965, Ser. No. 480,375 3 Claims. (Cl. 70-456) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLGSURE This invention relates to key holders and more i speciiicaliy to a device for holding a plurality of keys which will enable the user to switch from one key to another in a single quick motion.

It is often desirable, particularly in the case of automo'bile keys, where one key is being used to switch to another key to operate or unlock another device. Thus for example, certain vehicles employ one key for the ignition and a different key for the glove compartment or trunk lock. With conventional key holders it is necessary to select the proper key, push the undesired key back into the key holder and then use the key selected. This process is repeated each time there is a need for a diiferent key. In addition, the keys often become loosened from the case of conventional key holders and may scratch or tear surfaces or articles of clothing.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a key holder for two or more keys which will overcome the shortcomings of previously known devices.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a key holder which will bring a key into position for use while at the same time retaining the other keys in the holder in a retracted position.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a key holder which will enable the user to switch from one key to another with a single motion.

A feature of the present invention is its use of a simple slide which will hold all of the keys in the key case or move to one side or the other of the key case to release a key for use and simultaneously retract the key previously in use.

Another feature of the present invention is to provide a key holder which will retain all of the keys within the body of the key holder until their u-se is desired.

Another feature of the present invention is its use of a simple spring member interconnecting opposed keys whereby the released kety will snap outwardly of the Ibody of the key holder.

The invention consists of the construction, combination and arrangement of parts, as herein illustrated, described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing, forming a part hereof is illustrated two forms of embodiment of the invention, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a somewhat isometric view of a comi plete embodiment of the present invention showing one key in position for use.

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the key holder as shown in FIGURE 1 in the retracted position.

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 3-3 in FIGURE 2l looking in the direction 0f the arrows.

FIGURE 4 is a view in longitudinal section taken on line 4 4 in FIGURE 2 somewhat enlarged.

3,355,917 Patented Dec. 5, 1967 ICC FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary view similar to FIGURE 4 showing one of the keys in the open position, and a sleeve key retainer.

FIGURE -6 is a view in side elevation of a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIGURE 7 in a cross-sectional View taken on line 7-7 of FIGURE 6 of looking in the arrows.

Referring to the drawings and particularly to FIG- URES l and 2, 16 indicates a key holder having a rectangular case 11. The case 11 may be made of metal, plastic, or some other suitable rigid material and is provided with spaced side walls 12, 13 and end walls 14. An opening 15 is provided in the top of the case 11 through which keys 16, 17 may swing during the use of the key holder.

A latch member 18 is slidably carried upon the case 11 and controls the operation of the key holder. The latch member 1S is provided with opposed cutaway portions 19, 20 in the top thereof giving the said top 21 a somewhat Sshaped configuration best shown in FIGURE 2. The purpose of the cut-away portions 19, 20 will hereinafter be more fulliy set forth. The sides 22, 23 of the latch 18 are also provided with slots 24 to receive an outwardly extending pin 25 carried by the case 11. The pin 25 serves to limit the travel of the latch 18 along the case 11. It is to be understood that the slots 24 in the sides of the latch 18 are cut into the said sides from opposite directions and that a pin 25 extends outwardly from each of the sides 22, 23 as shown in FIGURE 2.

The keys 16, 17 which are used in the present device are modified to the extent of reducing the size of the head portion of the key in the manner shown in FIG- URES 4 and 5 at 26. The head portions 26 are further bored to provide a small hole 27 so that one end of a coil spring 28 may be secured thereto. The opposite end of the coil spring 28 is secured to the opposite key within the case 11. The tension of the coil spring 28 is suiicient to cause the keys to pop up in the manner shown in FIGURES 1 and 5 when the latch 1S is slid away from a position overlying the said key.

The S-shaped configuration of the top of the latch 1S permits one key to be released in a manner shown in FIGURE 1 and to swing outwardly within the cutaway portion directly above the said key when the latch is slid to one end of the case 11. However, the opposite key is retained in place by the top 21 of the latch 18 when the said latch is in a position such as that shown in FIGURE 1. Should the opposite key be desired for use, it merely necessary to slide the latch 18 to the opposite side of the case 11, whereupon the previously released key will 'be forced down into the key case 11 and its corresponding opposite number will snap up through the cut-away portion as it passes over the top of the said key.

When it is desired to retain both keys within the case, it is merely necessary to bring the latch to the central position shown in FIGURE 2. The bottom of the latch 18 is provided with a small recess 29 into which a detent 30 will snap when the two are brought into register.

A liat spring 31 best shown in FIGURES 3 and 4 secured at its ends to the bottom wall 32 of the case 11 urges the detent 30 outwardly and in a direction of the latch 18. The ilat spring 31 permits the detent 30 to be pushed out of the way of the latch when it is desired to release one or the other of the keys. Nevertheless, the flat spring 31 is suiciently strong to hold the detent in engagement with the recess 29 when the key holder is not in use and the keys are to remain within the case 11.

It will be observed from an examination of FIGURE 3 3 that the pins 25 which serve as stops for the latch 18, also serve as pivots for the keys 16, 17.

In FIGURES 6 and 7 there is shown a second embodiment of the present invention in which the latch overlies only three sides of the key case 11 and slides within a longitudinal recess 33 within the said case. In this embodiment the latch 34 is provided with inwardly extending embossed members 35 which guide it within the recess 33. Embossings 36, 37 on the case 11 and latch 34 also serve to hold the latch in the central or locked position. In all other respects, the construction of this embodiment is similar to that hereinabove described in connection with FIGURES 1 thru 5.

Where it is desired to change keys from time to time using the same key holder, a sleeve 38, shown in FIG- URE 5, may be provided. The sleeve 38 is of a size to receive the end of the key and is pivotally secured within the holder by the pin 25. In this form of the invention the spring 28 is secured to the sleeve as indicated at 39 instead of to the key.

It will be understood that while only two keys have been shown in the present description it is possible to add a plurality of key -holders in side by side relationship to accommodate additional sets of keys without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A key holder comprising a hollow rectangular case open at its top `consisting of spaced side walls, spaced end walls and a bottom, latch means slidably mounted on the case overlying a portion Of the case Opening to be engageable with keys positioned in the case to retain said keys within said case, said latch means having opposed cntout portions to permit the keys to swing therethrough when said keays are released, spaced transverse pins carried by and extending lbeyond the case and disposed in the path of the latch means, a key swingably carried Iby each of the pins within the case, and spring means comprising an elongated coil spring having an end secured under tension to a head portion of each key to interconnect said keys in order to urge the free end of each key to swing upwardly about its respective pin when the latch means are slid away from said portion of the case opening to be out of engagement with the key.

2. A device according to claim 1 in which the latch means are slidably carried by grooves in the spaced walls of the case.

3. A key holder comprising a hollow rectangular case open at its top consisting of spaced side walls, spaced end walls and a bottom, latch means slidably mounted on the case overlying a portion of the case opening to be engageable with keys positioned in the case to retain said keys within said case, said latch means having opposed cutout portions to permit the keys to swing therethrough when said keys are released, spaced transverse pins carried by and extending beyond the case and disposed in the path or the latch means, a key receiving sleeve swingably carried `by each of the pins within the case, and spring means Comprising an elongated coil spring having an end secured under tension to a portion of each sleeve to interconnect said sleeves in order to urge the free end of each key to swing upwardly about its respective pin when the latch means are slid away from said portion of the case opening to be out of engagement with the key.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,827,151 12/1931 Edwards 70-456 1,998,799 4/1935 Woina et al. 70-456 2,411,168 ll/ 1946 ,Seely -456 2,493,554 1/1950 Simon 70-456 2,560,595 7/1951 Poncar 70-456 2,924,961 2/1960 Pyper 70-456 3,079,784 3/1963 PavloWSki F/C-456 3,101,762 8/1963 Bermingham et al. 150-40 FOREIGN PATENTS 586,579 l2/l'958 Italy.

FRANCIS -K. ZUGEL, Primary Examiner.

MARVIN A. CHAMPION, Examiner.

P. TEITELBAUM, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A KEY HOLDER COMPRISING A HOLLOW RECTANGULAR CASE OPEN AT ITS TOP CONSISTING OF SPACED SIDE WALLS, SPACED END WALLS AND A BOTTOM, LATCH MEANS SLIDABLY MOUNTED ON THE CASE OVERLYING A PORTION OF THE CASE OPENING TO BE ENGAGEABLE WITH KEYS POSITIONED IN THE CASE TO RETAIN SAID KEYS WITHIN SAID CASE, SAID LATCH MEANS HAVING OPPOSED CUTOUT PORTIONS TO PERMIT THE KEYS TO SWING THERETHROUGH WHEN SAID KEYS ARE RELEASED, SPACED TRANSVERSE PINS CARRIED BY AND EXTENDING BEYOND THE CASE AND DISPOSED IN THE PATH OF THE LATCH MEANS, A KEY SWINGABLY CARRIED BY EACH OF THE PINS WITHIN THE CASE, AND SPRING MEANS COMPRISING AN ELONGATED COIL SPRING HAVING AN END SECURED UNDER TENSION TO A HEAD PORTION OF EACH KEY TO INTERCONNECT SAID KEYS IN ORDER TO URGE THE FREE END OF EACH KEY TO SWING UPWARDLY ABOUT ITS RESPECTIVE PIN WHEN THE LATCH MEANS ARE SLID AWAY FROM SAID PORTION OF THE CASE OPENING TO BE OUT OF ENGAGEMENT WITH THE KEY. 